what diantha did-第8章

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the　floors　and　walls　and　the　darkness；　the　dust　in　the　little　shaded
parlortwo　days'　dust　at　least；　and　Orchardina　is　very　dusty！dust　in
the　dining…room　gathered　since　yesterdaythe　dust　in　the　kitchenshe
would　not　count　time　there；　and　the　dusthere　she　counted　it
inexorablythe　dust　of　eight　days　in　her　great；　light　workroom
upstairs。　　Eight　days　since　she　had　found　time　to　go　up　there。

Lying　there；　wide…eyed　and　motionless；　she　stood　outside　in　thought　and
looked　at　the　houseas　she　used　to　look　at　it　with　him；　before　they
were　married。　　Then；　it　had　roused　every　blessed　hope　and　dream　of
wedded　joyit　seemed　a　casket　of　uncounted　treasures。　　Now；　in　this
dreary　mood；　it　seemed　not　only　a　mere　workshop；　but　one　of　alien　tasks；
continuous；　impossible；　like　those　set　for　the　Imprisoned　Princess　by
bad　fairies　in　the　old　tales。　　In　thought　she　entered　the
well…proportioned　doorthe　Gate　of　Happinessand　a　musty　smell　greeted
hershe　had　forgotten　to　throw　out　those　flowers！　　She　turned　to　the
parlorno；　the　piano　keys　were　gritty；　one　had　to　clean　them　twice　a
day　to　keep　that　room　as　she　liked　it。

From　room　to　room　she　flitted；　in　her　mind；　trying　to　recall　the
exquisite　things　they　meant　to　her　when　she　had　planned　them；　and　each
one　now　opened　glaring　and　blank；　as　a　place　to　work　inand　the　work
undone。

〃If　I　were　an　abler　woman！〃　she　breathed。　　And　then　her　common　sense　and
common　honesty　made　her　reply　to　herself：　〃I　am　able　enoughin　my　own
work！　　Nobody　can　do　everything。　　I　don't　believe　Edgar'd　do　it　any
better　than　I　do。He　don't　have　to！and　then　such　a　wave　of　bitterness
rushed　over　her　that　she　was　afraid；　and　reached　out　one　hand　to　touch
the　cribthe　other　to　her　husband。

He　awakened　instantly。　　〃What　is　it；　Dear？〃　he　asked。　　〃Too　tired　to
sleep；　you　poor　darling？　　But　you　do　love　me　a　little；　don't　you？〃

〃O　_yes_！〃　she　answered。　　〃I　do。　　Of　_course_　I　do！　　I'm　just　tired；　I
guess。　　Goodnight；　Sweetheart。〃


She　was　late　in　getting　to　sleep　and　late　in　waking。

When　he　finally　sat　down　to　the　hurriedly　spread　breakfast…table；　Mr。
Porne；　long　coffeeless；　found　it　a　bit　difficult　to　keep　his　temper。　
Isabel　was　a　little　stiff；　bringing　in　dishes　and　cups；　and　paying　no
attention　to　the　sounds　of　wailing　from　above。

〃Well　if　you　won't　I　will！〃　burst　forth　the　father　at　last；　and　ran
upstairs；　returning　presently　with　a　fine　boy　of　some　eleven　months；　who
ceased　to　bawl　in　these　familiar　arms；　and　contented　himself；　for　the
moment；　with　a　teaspoon。

〃Aren't　you　going　to　feed　him？〃　asked　Mr。　Porne；　with　forced　patience。

〃It　isn't　time　yet；〃　she　announced　wearily。　　〃He　has　to　have　his　bath
first。〃

〃Well；〃　with　a　patience　evidently　forced　farther；　〃isn't　it　time　to　feed
me？〃

〃I'm　very　sorry；〃　she　said。　　〃The　oatmeal　is　burned　again。　　You'll　have
to　eat　cornflakes。　　Andthe　cream　is　sourthe　ice　didn't　comeor　at
least；　perhaps　I　was　out　when　it　cameand　then　I　forgot　it。　。　。　。　。　I
had　to　go　to　the　employment　agency　in　the　morning！　。　。　。　。　I'm　sorry　I'm
soso　incompetent。〃

〃So　am　I；〃　he　commented　drily。　　〃Are　there　any　crackers　for　instance？　
And　how　about　coffee？〃

She　brought　the　coffee；　such　as　it　was；　and　a　can　of　condensed　milk。　
Also　crackers；　and　fruit。　　She　took　the　baby　and　sat　silent。

〃Shall　I　come　home　to　lunch？〃　he　asked。

〃Perhaps　you'd　better　not；〃　she　replied　coldly。

〃Is　there　to　be　any　dinner？〃

〃Dinner　will　be　ready　at　six…thirty；　if　I　have　to　get　it　myself。〃

〃If　you　have　to　get　it　yourself　I'll　allow　for　seven…thirty；〃　said　he；
trying　to　be　cheerful；　though　she　seemed　little　pleased　by　it。　　〃Now
don't　take　it　so　hard；　Ellie。　　You　are　a　first…class　architect；
anyhowone　can't　be　everything。　　We'll　get　another　girl　in　time。　　This
is　just　the　common　lot　out　here。　　All　the　women　have　the　same　trouble。〃

〃Most　women　seem　better　able　to　meet　it！〃　she　burst　forth。　　〃It's　not　my
trade！　　I'm　willing　to　work；　I　like　to　work；　but　I　can't　_bear_
housework！　　I　can't　seem　to　learn　it　at　all！　　And　the　servants　will　not
do　it　properly！〃

〃Perhaps　they　know　your　limitations；　and　take　advantage　of　them！　　But
cheer　up；　dear。　　It's　no　killing　matter。　　Order　by　phone；　don't　forget
the　ice；　and　I'll　try　to　get　home　early　and　help。　　Don't　cry；　dear　girl；
I　love　you；　even　if　you　aren't　a　good　cook！　　And　you　love　me；　don't
you？〃

He　kissed　her　till　she　had　to　smile　back　at　him　and　give　him　a　loving
hug；　but　after　he　had　gone；　the　gloom　settled　upon　her　spirits　once
more。　　She　bathed　the　baby；　fed　him；　put　him　to　sleep；　and　came　back　to
the　table。　　The　screen　door　had　been　left　ajar　and　the　house　was　buzzing
with　flies；　hot；　with　a　week's　accumulating　disorder。　　The　bread　she
made　last　night　in　fear　and　trembling；　was　hanging　fatly　over　the　pans；
perhaps　sour　already。　　She　clapped　it　into　the　oven　and　turned　on　the
heat。

Then　she　stood；　undetermined；　looking　about　that　messy　kitchen　while　the
big　flies　bumped　and　buzzed　on　the　windows；　settled　on　every　dish；　and
swung　in　giddy　circles　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　　Turning　　swiftly　she
shut　the　door　on　them。　　The　dining…room　was　nearly　as　bad。　　She　began　to
put　the　cups　and　plates　together　for　removal；　but　set　her　tray　down
suddenly　and　went　into　the　comparative　coolness　of　the　parlor；　closing
the　dining…room　door　behind　her。

She　was　quite　tired　enough　to　cry　after　several　nights　of　broken　rest
and　days　of　constant　discomfort　and　irritation；　but　a　sense　of　rising
anger　kept　the　tears　back。

〃Of　course　I　love　him！〃　she　said　to　herself　aloud　but　softly；
remembering　the　baby；　　〃And　no　doubt　he　loves　me！　　I'm　glad　to　be　his
wife！　　I'm　glad　to　be　a　mother　to　his　child！　　I'm　glad　I　married　him！　
But_this_　is　not　what　he　offered！　　And　it's　not　what　I　undertook！　　He
hasn't　had　to　change　his　business！〃

She　marched　up　and　down　the　scant　space；　and　then　stopped　short　and
laughed　drily；　continuing　her　smothered　soliloquy。

〃'Do　you　love　me？'　they　ask；　and；　'I　will　make　you　happy！'　they　say；　and
you　get　marriedand　after　that　it's　Housework！〃

〃They　don't　say；　'Will　you　be　my　Cook？'　　'Will　you　be　my　Chamber　maid？'　
'Will　you　give　up　a　good　clean　well…paid　business　that　you　lovethat
has　big　hope　and　power　and　beauty　in　itand　come　and　keep　house　for
me？'〃

〃Love　him？　　I'd　be　in　Paris　this　minute　if　I　didn't！　　What　has　'love'　to
do　with　dust　and　grease　and　flies！〃

Then　she　did　drop　on　the　small　sofa　and　cry　tempestuously　for　a　little
while；　but　soon　arose；　fiercely　ashamed　of　her　weakness；　and　faced　the
day；　thinking　of　the　old　lady　who　had　so　much　to　do　she　couldn't　think
what　to　firstso　she　sat　down　and　made　a　pincushion。

Thenwhere　to　begin！

〃Eddie　will　sleep　till　half…past　tenif　I'm　lucky。　　It's　now　nearly
half…past　nine；〃　she　meditated　aloud。　　〃If　I　do　the　upstairs　work　I
might　wake　him。　　I　mustn't　forget　the　bread；　the　dishes；　the　parlorO
those　flies！　　WellI'll　clear　the　table　first！〃

Stepping　softly；　and　handling　the　dishes　with　slow　care；　she　cleaned　the
breakfast　table　and　darkened　the　dining…room；　flapping　out　some　of　the
flies　with　a　towel。　　Then　she　essayed　the　parlor；　dusting　and　arranging
with　undecided　steps。　　〃It　_ought_　to　be　swept；〃　she　admitted　to
herself；　〃I　can't　do　itthere　isn't　time。　　I'll　make　it　dark〃

〃I'd　rather　plan　a　dozen　houses！〃　she　fiercely　muttered；　as　she　fussed
about。　　〃YesI'd　rather　build　'emthan　to　keep　one　clean！〃

Then　were　her　hopes　dashed　by　a　rising　wail　from　above。　　She　sat　quite
still　awhile；　hoping　against　hope　that　he　would　sleep　again；　but　he
wouldn't。　　So　she　brought　him　down　in　full　cry。

In　her　low　chair　by　the　window　she　held　him　and　produced　bright　and
jingling　objects　from　the　tall　workbasket　that　stood　near　by；　sighing
again　as　she　glanced　at　its　accumulated　mending。

Master　Eddy　grew　calm　and　happy　in　her　arms；　but　showed　a　growing
interest　in　the　pleasing　materials　produced　for　his　amusement；　and　a
desire　for　closer　acquaintance。　　Then　a　penetrating　odor　filled　the　air；
and　with　a　sudden　〃O　dear！〃　she　rose；　put　the　baby　on　the　sofa；　and
started　toward　the　kitchen。

At　this　moment　the　doorbell　rang。

Mrs。　Porne　stopped　in　her　tracks　and　looked　at　the　door。　　It　remained
opaque　and　immovable。　　She　looked　at　the　babywho　jiggled　his　spools
and　crowed。　　Then　she　flew　to　the　oven　and　dragged　forth　the　bread；　not
much　burned　after　all。　　Then　she　opened　the　door。

A　nice　looking　young　woman　stood　before　her；　in　a　plain　travelling　suit；
holding　a　cheap　dress…suit　case　in　one　hand　and　a　denim　〃roll…bag〃　in
the　other；　who　met　her　with　a　cheerful　inquiring　smile。

〃Are　you　Mrs。　Edgar　Porne？〃　she　asked。

〃I　am；〃　answered　that　lady；　somewhat　shortly；　her　hand　on　the　doorknob；
her　ear　on　the　baby；　her　nose　still　remorsefully　in　the　kitchen；　her
eyes　fixed　sternly　on　her　visitor　the　while；　as　she　wondered　whether　it
was　literature；　cosmetics；　or　medicine。

She　was　about　to　add　that　she　didn't　want　anything；　when　the　young　lady
produced　a　card　from　the　Rev。　Benjamin　A。　Miner；　Mrs。　Porne's
particularly　revered　minister；　and　stated　that　she　had　heard　there　was　a
vacancy　in　her　kitchen　and　she　would　like　the　place。

〃Introducing　Mrs。　D。　Bell；　well　known　to　friends　of　mine。〃

〃I　don't　know〃　said　Mrs。　Porne；　reading　the　card　without　in　the　least
grasping　what　it　said。　　〃I〃

Just　then　there　was　a　dull　falling　sound　followed　by　a　sharp　rising　one；
and　she　rushed　into　the　parlor　without　more　words。

When　she　could　hear　and　be　heard　again；　she　found　Mrs。　Bell　seated　in
the　shadowy　little　hall；　serene　and　cool。　　〃I　called　on　Mr。　Miner
yesterday　when　I　arrived；〃　said　she；　〃with　letters　of　introduction　from
my　former　minister；　told　him　what　I　wanted　to　do；　and　asked　him　if　he
could　suggest　anyone　in　immediate　need　of　help　in　this　line。　　He　said　he
had　called　here　recently；　and　believed　you　were　looking　for　someone。　
Here　is　the　letter　I　showed　him；〃　and　she　handed　Mrs。　Porne　a　most
friendly　and　appreciative　recommendation　of　Miss　D。　Bell　by　a　minister
in　Jopalez；　Inca　Co。；　stating　that　the　bearer　was　fully　qualified　to　do
all　kinds　of　housework；　experienced；　honest；　kind；　had　worked　seven
years　in　one　place；　and　only　left　it　hoping　to　do　better　in　Southern
California。

Backed　by　her　own　pastor's　approval　this　seemed　to　Mrs。　Porne　fully
sufficient。　　The　look　of　the　girl　pleased　her；　though　suspiciously　above
her　station　in　manner；　service　of　any　sort　was　scarce　and　high　in
Orchardina；　and　she　had　been　an　agelong　week　without　any。　　〃When　can　you
come？〃　she　asked。

〃I　can　stop　now　if　you　like；〃　said　the　stranger。　　〃This　is　my　baggage。　
But　we　must　arrange　terms　first。　　If　you　like　to　try　me　I　will　come　this
week　from　noon　to…day　to　noon　next　Friday；　for　seven　dollars；　and　then
if　you　are　satisfied　with　my　work　we　can　make　further　arrangements。　　I
do　not　do　laundry　work；　of　course；　and　don't　undertake　to　have　any　care
of　the　baby。〃

〃I　take　care　of　my　baby　myself！〃　said　Mrs。　Porne；　thinking　the　new　girl
was　presuming；　though　her　manner　was　most　gently　respectful。　　But　a　week
was　not　long；　she　was　well　recommended；　and　the　immediate　pressure　in
that　kitchen　where　the　harvest　was　so　ripe　and　the　laborers　so
few〃Wellyou　may　try　the　week；〃　she　said。　　〃I'll　show　you　your